By SPENCER BATES
ST. BONAVENTURE — It’s a funny feeling, suiting up for a team you once considered a rival.
That is exactly what St. Bonaventure’s Aaliyah Parker expressed.
A Niagara Purple Eagle for the first four years of her collegiate basketball career, she had played against the Bonnies twice, averaging 10.5 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals in those contests.
But after suffering a season-ending injury last year, Parker decided to see whether or not the grass is greener on the other side of the rivalry. Through two games of the 2025-26 season, she’s finding it just may be as she has not only found her a place amongst the ranks of this season’s Bonnies, but a figurehead of the program.
But according to her, the change was not all that difficult, mainly thanks to the welcoming environment the team created.
“Adjusting has gone really well,” Parker said. “It usually takes a while to adjust, because it’s a new place, but I adjusted pretty quickly. Everyone was welcoming and I fit right in.”
Bona is 2-0 for the first time in four years behind the leadership and experience of Parker, who scored 10 points to go along with five rebounds in her return to Niagara on Nov. 7, a game that ended in a 74-56 victory. But for as much as Parker has been a major factor for the program thus far, head coach Jim Crowley has acknowledged there is even more to come from the veteran as she is still working her way back up to the level she was at before her injury.
Granted, while she was on the sidelines, the learning did not stop for Parker. She was unable to grow her game physically, but it was that inability to be on the floor that taught her to cherish each and every moment she has left.
“I just learned to be more grateful towards the sport, because you never know when it can be taken away from you,” Parker said.
It is that kind of maturity that made bringing in Parker such a no-brainer for Crowley. After trying to navigate last season with a roster that became heavily reliant on freshmen due to injuries, having someone who can learn a system and take the wheel on the floor just makes sense.
“We talk a lot,” Parker said of her relationship with her new coach. “I feel like the biggest thing I’ve learned from him is being confident in myself. He’s always saying I’m doing a good job and is just (encouraging me) to be confident in myself.”
Having Parker on the court is almost like having a coach out on the floor in and of herself. It is a role that she has embraced too, admitting how the second she sees something an opponent is doing, she makes it a point to fill in her teammates so they can make the adjustment.
“I’ve been very vocal with them, especially if I see little things,” Parker said. “If I’m on the sideline, watching, I’ll walk up to them and (tell them), ‘this player is doing this, so you need to do this.’ Just being very vocal with them.”
St. Bonaventure’s Aaliyah Parker (5) looks to drive against the Daemen defense. (Hunter O. Lyle)
Fortunately for her, it has been incredibly easy to relay such information. Parker noted that the team has been able to build chemistry rapidly and much of that is thanks to how much time they spend with one another off the court.
“We’re all new players coming in, so we have to get that connection, that chemistry,” Parker said. “But honestly, it’s been great. Not just on the court, but off the court as well. We are always with each other, always hanging out. Whether that be in the dining hall, hanging out at each other’s apartments. I feel like how much we hang out with each other off the court has helped on the court as well.”
That bond has also led to a collective understanding emerging as to what this team’s goals are this year.
Make no mistake about it, this group of players is here to win. But they also know that is something that will not just happen, there needs to be significant work put in on a day-to-day basis.
“I want to win, that’s what I want to do,” Parker said. “But honestly, we have to take it one day at a time. We have to get better each and every day. I’m just excited to play.”
Up next for Parker and the Bonnies is a matchup with Binghamton on the road, with a chance to move to 3-0 to start a season for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
